Manufacture of vacuum devices



N. H. START MANUFACTURE oF vAcUUMbEvIcEs Filed June 9, 1938.

fahnen-rsp m5 lNvENToR 15 Y y /v. H. iff/Mfr Patented 24, 1940 UNITED, STATE 'y azissss Mmnncruna or VACUUM Daviess i Nelson n. stewm,ca1aweu, N. J., assignmto Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, am Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania la., a corporation of Application June s, i938, 'serial No. 212,856 y This invention relates to the manufacture of vacuum devices and, more particularly, to means for permitting -the' insertion of a tubulation in the connection to the vacuum pumps requiring 5 less force than in the more conventional types.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is theprovision oi an inflatable annular member housed and 'associated with a tube connecting with a vacuum pump or pumpsv l l0 to provide an aperture freely receiving the exhaust tubes of devices to be evacuated when in normal condition, and, when inated, tightly'r gripping said tubes to connect them withV said pumps, and means for introducing and releas- 16 ing inating uidwith respectto said member. Another object ofmy invention is the' provision of a connector between vacuum pumps and hollow bodies to be. exhausted, such as the bulbs of electrical devices including incandescent lamps 26 and discharge tubes, said connector comprising a housing-enclosed inatable annular rubber member, which in turn surrounds a tube connecting with said pumps, leaving an aperture receiving the exhaust tubes of devices to be evacuated, and v ucl-means for introducinguid to, and releasing it 35 ing with vacuum pumps, and an annular innatable rubber member surrounding said tube and enclosed in said retainer, said retainer having an aperture aligned with said tubefor receiving exhaust tubes of devices to be evacuated, and

40 a handle operable to either introduce expanding uid into said annular rubber member for gripping an exhaust .tube and connecting it tovsaid pumps, or releasing lsaid iluid therefrom -and allowing .free insertion or withdrawal of said tube.

Other objects and advantages vof the invention, relating to the particular arrangement and construction of various parts, will become apparent w as the description proceeds.

' Referring to the drawing illustrating my linfvention:

,Y Fig l is'a partial elevational view, and par-uv ui yemen section on vmenney r-I of Fig, 2, .pin the direction of the arrows,

i *ii (Cl. 17H) l Fig. 2 is a horizontal-vsectional view on the line II II of Fig. 1, in the direction ofthe arrows.

line III-III of Fig.- 1, in the direction of the arrows. l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the annular rubber memberinflated and gripping the 'exhaust tube of a holvlow body to be evacuated..

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the annu- Fig.3 isa fragmentary sectional view on the lar rubber member removed from the associated apparatus.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like. parts being designated bylike reference characters, there is shown an exhaust table or spider II upon which is mountedy a retainer I2, as. by means of screws I3 passing throughfthe lower ange I4 thereof, and into the top of said table. The. retainer I2 is hollow and provides a generally cylindrical compartment I5 into which fits .a hollow inflatable annular member or ring I6,

desirably formed of softrubber.

Extending upwardly from the table Il, entering the hole I1 in the iniiatable rubber member iS, and preferably terminating about midway of the height of the retainer I2 and enclosed member i5, to provide an exhaust tube stop at the desired location, is an exhausting tube I8, also adapted to serve .for the introduction ofll gas,

which is-desirably formed of metal, and of a diameter corresponding generally with that of exhaust tubes or tubulatures of devices. to be evacuated, but preferably being of such a size as to snugly t the hole I1. The retainer l2 has an aperture I 9 in its upper wall, `corresponding generally in size with the tube I,for receive ing exhaustvtub'es y2l of hollow devices 22, 'such as lamp bulbs, to be evacuated, with or without the subsequent introduction of inert gas. y The aperture I9 isjust large enough to permit .the free insertion of such exhaust tubes, while insuring that the same are properly centered with respect to the inflatable rubber'member I5.

The rubber element I8 is desirably constructed, as shown in detail in Fig. 5; that is, formed hollow by the provision of an outer cylindrical wall 23 spaced a relatively great distance fromv an inner cylindrical wall 24, leaving the relatively small aperture I1. 4The outer cylindrical wall 23 is normally of such a' diameter that re' tainer I2^easily fits thereover, while the inner cylindrical ,wall 24 is of such a diameter that it normally permits the insertion of an exhaust tube 2l, until it engages therupper end of the tube or pipe i8, without binding, but with little cleai-,

" which, designated as 21, may serve for the introduction of compressed air or other inflating iluid, into the member I8 and the other, designated as 28, may serve for the release of said fluid. As an alternative, a three-way valve may be used with only one tube, and the otheralways kept closed or omitted, so that the rubber element I6 may be inflated or allowed to collapse and assume its normal size at will.

. A lever 28 is provided for actuating the inilatable member I8 by introducing compressed air thereto, and releasing it therefrom. This lever is desirably pivotally mounted on the lower extension of the tube I8, as by being supported on an annular collar 3l, held in place thereon as by means of a set screw 32. be held in position with respect to Athe table Il in any desired manner, as by means of a set screw 33. The hub 34 of the lever 29 is desirably bushed,"as indicated at 35, and held in spaced relation with respect to the table II, by means of a bushing 38 disposed on the tube I8.

The lever 28 carries a roller 31 pivotally mounted on an arbor 38 upstanding therefrom and en gaging the outer cam surface A38 of a pinch clamp 4|, mounted on a depending pivot member 42, se-

cured to the lower surface of the table Il, as by threadably engaging the same, as indicated at 43, which, when in the position -illustrated in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, closes the exhaust tube 28 as by squeezing it against a depending por-V tion of the table II, and opens the air inlet tube 21, of the rubber member I8, permitting the entry of compressed air into said member, and causing inflation thereof with consequent gripping of the engaged end of the pipe I8 and cor` responding end of an exhaust tube 2|, whichis presumably then in place, as shown in Fig. l.

Although I do not wish to be limited to the exactgures, it might`be stated that I have found that air pressure of about fifteen pounds per square inch may be satisfactorily employed, and the length of the bearing or surface engagement between therubber element I8 and the exhaust tube 2|, may be about one-half inch for making a vacuum-tight `joint.

Upon moving the lever 28 from the fullto the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 2, the roller 31 passes from the far segment and runs over the near segment of the curved surface 38 of the pinch clamp 4I, closing the air inlet pipe 21, as by squeezing it against the 4adiacent surface of a depending portion of the table I I, and opening the exhaust pipe 28 to allow escape of compressed air, or other inilating fluid, from the' rubber member I6, and stop the supply of said uid. The contour of the cam is such that the lever 28 will tend to stay in either of its extreme positions illustrated in Fig. 2, with no tendency to move due to pressure of air on either of the tubes 21 and 28.

In order to prevent movement of the lever 28 beyond the extreme positions illustrated in Fig. 2,

a stop 44 is provided whichextends upwardly ber vacuum sealing member I8 is deflated, the' The tube I8 mayA hollow body 22 to be evacuated is placed in the position illustrated in Fig. I with the exhaust tube 2I received in the central laperture I1 of the hollow rubber member I8 and aligned with the exhausting tube I 8. By virtue of the collapsed condition of the rubber member I8, the f exhaust tube 2| is freely insertable in the central aperture I1, until it engages the top of the tube If it is desired to merely remove the air from the device 22, the vacuum pumps are allowed-to operate until the vacuum has reached the desired condition, in a manner well -known in the art, whereupon tipping of! fires operateon the exhaust tube 2|, above the place where it enters the aperture -|8 in the retainer I2, until said device 22 has been sealed of! and removed. The

lever 28 is then moved to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, collapsing the. rubber member I8 to release the engaged end portion of the exhaust vtube 2|, whereupon the operator may remove said portion without difficulty, and apply the corresponding exhaust tube of another hollow member to be evacuated.

on the other hand, if itis desired te nu the' rmember 22 with inert gas after evacuation, this is done by introduction through the tube 4l, after the desired degreeof vacuum has been obtained, in a manner well known in the art. After introduction of the desired amount of inert gas has -been effected, -the exhaust tube 2| is tipped off, as previously described.

From the foregoing disclosure -it will be seen that I have provided a device vpermitting thev insertion of a tabulation or exhaust tube into engagement with an' exhausting or gas-filling tube.

in the connection to the vacuum pumps, which device requires considerably less force than in the more `conventional types ine which a relatively tight fit is at all times required, making it Anecessary to use a lubricant t9 facilitate tubulation insertion.

vacuum tube design is such thatl the exhaust tube is relatively weak mechanically, and it greatly This isl of particular value `where' increases the ease of removal of the portion of the exhaust tube'remaining after tipping oil',

thereby facilitating manufacturing operations as well as avoiding the possibility of breakage.

Although a preferred embodiment 'of my invention has been disclosed; it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scopeof the appended claim.

I 'claimt In apparatus for quickly connecting and disconnecting hollow bodies with respect to vacuumproducing means, a table, an inflatable hollow annular rubber -member resting thereon, a retainer telescoping with said rubber member and secured to said table, said table being provided with an aperture, an exhausting tube extending upwardly through said aperture and withfits upper end portion snugly embraced by said rubber member, said retainer having an aperture in its upper wall aligned with said table aperture for 2,215,655 l v e 3 the reception of exhaust tubes of bodies to be evacuated, the upper end of said exhausting tube providing a stop for said exhaust tubes,A said table also being further apertured, and said rubber member having tubular means extending therethrough, the lower end portion of said tubular means lying alongside adenending part v of said table, and means pivoted on said exhausting tube and adapted to alternately release and compress said tubular means against said delpending part.l

t v NELSON H. STEWART. 

